Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Dekproud’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘Dekproud’, characterized by its anemone-type inflorescences with lanceolate-shaped, pink-colored ray florets; green to pink-colored disc florets with yellow-colored apices; strong and upright flowering stems; freely flowering habit; early and uniform flowering response; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Chrysanthemum×morifolium.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Dekproud’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum×morifolium and referred to by the name ‘Dekproud’.

The new Chrysanthemum is the product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Hensbroek, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new cut Chrysanthemum cultivars with interesting inflorescence forms and attractive floret coloration.

The new Chrysanthemum originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor on Mar. 27, 2002, in Hensbroek, The Netherlands, of a proprietary selection of Chrysanthemum identified as code number 5003.49, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary Chrysanthemum selection identified as code number 99.795.01, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Chrysanthemum was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Hensbroek, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum by terminal cuttings in Hensbroek, The Netherlands since November, 2002, has shown that the unique features of this new Chrysanthemum are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Dekproud has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Dekproud’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Dekproud’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Anemone-type inflorescences with lanceolate-shaped,         pink-colored ray florets; green to pink-colored disc florets         with yellow-colored apices.     -   2. Strong and upright flowering stems.     -   3. Freely flowering habit.     -   4. Early and uniform flowering response.     -   5. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hensbroek, The Netherlands, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differed from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum were more vigorous than         plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum had larger leaves than plants         of the female parent selection.     -   3. Ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum were lighter         pink in color than ray florets of plants of the female parent         selection.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hensbroek, The Netherlands, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differed from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum were more vigorous than         plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum had smaller leaves than         plants of the male parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum had larger inflorescences         than plants of the male parent selection.     -   4. Plants of new Chrysanthemum and the male parent selection         differed in ray floret coloration as plants of the male parent         selection had white-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of the Chrysanthemum cultivar Mona Lisa Rosy, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hensbroek, The Netherlands, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differed primarily from plants of the cultivar Mona Lisa Rosy in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Chrysanthemum were rougher than         leaves of plants of the cultivar Mona Lisa Rosy.     -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum had fewer inflorescences per         flowering stem than plants of the cultivar Mona Lisa Rosy.     -   3. Ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum were darker         pink in color than ray florets of plants of the cultivar Mona         Lisa Rosy.     -   4. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum had longer disc florets than         plants of the cultivar Mona Lisa Rosy.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the actual colors of the new Chrysanthemum.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering stem of ‘Dekproud’.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a close-up view of typical inflorescences of ‘Dekproud’.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of upper and lower surfaces of typical inflorescences and typical leaves of ‘Dekproud’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the winter and early spring in Hensbroek, The Netherlands, under commercial practice in a glass-covered greenhouse. Plants were initially given long day/short night treatments followed by short day/long night treatments to induce flower initiation and development. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 17.5 to 30° C., night temperatures ranged from 18.5 to 24° C. and light levels were about five kilolux. Plants were pinched once and were about ten weeks from planting when the photographs and the description were taken.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum×morifolium cultivar     Dekproud. -   Commercial classification: Anemone-type Chrysanthemum typically     grown as a spray-type cut flower. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female or seed parent.—Proprietary selection of             Chrysanthemum×morifolium identified as code number 5003.49,             not patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of             Chrysanthemum×morifolium identified as code number             99.795.01, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal tip cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 6 days at 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 7 days at 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, summer.—About 14 days at             20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, winter.—About 16 days at             20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine; light brown in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Appearance.—Herbaceous anemone-type cut Chrysanthemum;             typically grown as a spray-type; erect and strong flowering             stems. Vigorous.         -   Flowering stem description.—Length: About 80 cm. Diameter:             About 6 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Aspect:             Erect. Branching habit: Plants are typically grown as single             stems. Color: 146A.         -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate. Length: About             6.5 to 9.5 cm. Width: About 5 to 6.5 cm. Apex: Mucronate.             Base: Mostly truncate. Margin: Pinnately lobed. Texture,             upper and lower surface: Pubescent; rough. Petiole length:             About 2.5 to 3 cm. Color: Developing foliage, upper surface:             Darker than 147A. Developing foliage, lower surface: Close             to 137B. Fully expanded foliage, upper surface: Darker than             147A. Fully expanded foliage, lower surface: Close to 147B.             Venation, upper surface: 147B. Venation, lower surface:             146A. Petiole, upper and lower surfaces: 146A. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Anemone-type inflorescence form with             lanceolate-shaped ray florets. Inflorescences borne on             terminals above foliage. Disk and ray florets develop             acropetally on a capitulum. Inflorescences not fragrant.             Typically grown as a spray-type.         -   Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plant             typically flower in November in the Northern Hemisphere. At             other times of the year, inflorescence initiation and             development can be induced under short day/long night             conditions (at least 13.5 hours of darkness). Plants exposed             to long day/short night conditions after planting followed             by photoinductive short day/long night conditions flower             about 7.5 weeks later. Early and uniform flowering response.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Cut inflorescences will maintain             good substance and form for about 3.5 weeks.         -   Quantity of inflorescences per flowering stem.—About 15 to             20 inflorescence per flowering stem.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 6.5 cm. Depth (height):             About 2.5 to 3 cm. Diameter of disc: About 2.2 cm.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 7 mm. Diameter: About             1 cm. Shape: Oblate. Color: Close to 138A.         -   Ray florets.—Length: About 2.5 to 3 cm. Width: About 1 cm.             Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute to rounded. Base: Acute;             fused. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous; undulate. Number of ray florets per             inflorescence: About 26. Color: When opening, upper surface:             77D. When opening, lower surface: 69B. Fully opened, upper             surface: 84B to 84C. Fully opened, lower surface: 84C to             84D.         -   Disc florets.—Shape: Tubular; enlarged. Length: About 7 mm             to 22 mm. Width: About 1 mm to 3 mm. Number of disc florets             per inflorescence: About 140. Color: Immature: 145C. Mature:             Apex: 6A. Mid-section: 84B. Base: N144D.         -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 4.5 cm. Length,             fourth peduncle: About 7.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 to 4 mm.             Angle: About 45° from vertical. Strength: Moderately strong.             Texture: Pubescent. Color: 147B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Anther color: Close to 9A. Pollen color: Close to 9A.             Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc florets. Stigma             length: About 1 mm. Stigma diameter: About 0.3 mm. Stigma             color: Close to 144C to 144D.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to known Chrysanthemum pathogens     and pests has not been observed on plants of the new Chrysanthemum. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Dekproud’, as illustrated and described. 